The Warwick Valley High School Boys Basketball Program and the Hall of Fame Committee inducted two former Wildcats into the Warwick Boys Basketball Hall Of Fame on Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. The Warwick Boys Basketball Program paid tribute to two men whose efforts, commitment and past accomplishments on the hardwood as former Wildcats helped shape the history of Warwick Wildcat Basketball.

The Boys Basketball Hall of Fame committee selected two former Warwick Valley High School basketball players, John Winchester, Class of 1954 and John Jaje, Class of 1966, as the Inductee Class of 2016.

John Jaje, a 1966 graduate of Warwick High School was a three-year varsity player and starter. He played under Hall of Fame coach Vito Magdelinskas and was the starting forward on the 1965-66 Section IX Class B championship team. Jaje, a 6’4 forward, was an all around player who averaged 16.5 points a game as a senior and finished as the 6th leading scorer in the Section IX Class B division. Jaje scored 16 points in a key win over previously undefeated Valley Central; the win clinched a Section IX play-off berth for the Wildcats. His most memorable moment was winning the Section IX Class B championship game and bringing home the first Section IX championship for Warwick.

John Winchester, a 1954 graduate of Warwick High School was a four-year varsity player and three-year varsity starter 1950-54. He was the captain of the 1953-54 team. Winchester played under head coach C. Ashley Morgan. He was the leading scorer with an average of 17.1 points per game his senior year. He averaged in double figures in scoring his last three years on the varsity team. Winchester was the recipient of the prestigious George J. Hart Athletic Award at the 1954 commencement for the senior male “contributing the most to athletics during his high school career.” His choice shot was a one hand set shot, which was the pre-cursor to today’s jump shot. His most memorable moment was “playing basketball with all of his teammates throughout his career.”

Congratulations to both individuals on this outstanding accomplishment.

If you would like to nominate a former Warwick Wildcat basketball player for consideration for induction into the Hall of Fame contact Coach Tom Folino at 845-988-6564 or email tfolino@wvcsd.org.

The Program also recognized the 1965-66 Section IX championship boys basketball team. Members of the team were: Jeff Beattie, John Connelly, Glenn Griffin, John Jaje, Joe Perna, Art Quackenbush, George Rudy, Larry Scheuermann, Bob Smith, Jim Tomczak, Dick Wadeson and Head Coach Vito Magdelinskas. Called up from junior varsity team: Jack Degraw, Tom Goodman, Art Kamarad and Chip Magdelinskas. Many members of the team were in attendance.

Subscribe

If you enjoyed this article, subscribe now to receive more just like it.